The FBI said Sunday it has identified a suspect but has not yet established a motive for Saturday’s assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump, one of the highest-profile acts of U.S. political violence in decades.
The law enforcement agency said 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was the “subject involved” in the shooting, which occurred during a political rally in the nearby Pittsburgh suburbs.
Crooks was a registered Republican but had also made a recent $15 political donation to a liberal group, according to public voter records cited by several media outlets.
At least one spectator, Corey Comperatore, former fire chief in Butler County, was killed and two others were critically injured in the shooting, which occurred in a large, uncovered outdoor space in a rural area.
Per AP,
Bomb-making materials were found inside Crooks’ vehicle near the Trump rally and at his home, according to two officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. A white Allegheny County Police truck identified as bomb squad pulled up to the home late Sunday morning.
Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene of the shooting, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Investigators believe the weapon was bought by the father at least six months ago, two law enforcement officials told AP.
The officials said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Thomas Crooks obtained the gun. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
